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Horowitz Watch: Arizona
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Thanks in part to the work of Free Exchange on Campus (a coalition in which Campus Progress participates), David Horowitz's censorship legislation, the Academic Bill of Rights, hasn't moved forward in eight of the nine statehouses in which it's been introduced in 2007. But look out in Arizona, where a state senate committee just approved a bill that could fine, suspend, or terminate professors for:

  • Endorsing, supporting or opposing any candidate for local, state or national office.

  • Endorsing, supporting or opposing any pending legislation, regulation or rule under consideration by local, state or federal agencies.

  • Endorsing, supporting or opposing any litigation in any court.

  • Advocating “one side of a social, political, or cultural issue that is a matter of partisan controversy.”

  • Hindering military recruiting on campus or endorsing the activities of those who do.

What's particularly fascistic here is the suggestion that professors can't even take a stance on "social, political, or cultural issues that are matters of partisan controversy." Could someone lose their job for suggesting gay people have the right to marry? Or that women have the right to have an abortion? Think about how this would stifle discussion in law school classrooms, for example, where questions of rights and morality are so central to interpreting the law.


Reader Comments

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Frustrating
By Sandy Feb 22nd 2007 at 2:31 pm EST
As a cultural studies professor in AZ, I feel that my effectiveness as a teacher is stifled by this recent development. How am I supposed to encourage my students to look at issues critically -- to examine the way they are portrayed in the mainstream and indy news media, etc -- if I can't have my own position to start the discussion? Any teacher knows the value of encouraging students to disagree or agree with you. They need a starting point for discussion, especially undergrads from high schools which did not teach debate skills.

Our culture is not uniform -- that's what makes my discipline possible. But the blanket ban on supporting OR criticizing controversial issues makes my job impossible.
  
Horowitz go speak in Faluga!
By chanceny Feb 23rd 2007 at 5:02 pm EST
This treasonous moron should be boycotted from spewing his assinine pronouncements meant to stifle debate and any modicum of reasonable discourse. He is imminently unqualified to share his backward thinking views with any audience composed of rational intelligent humans who do not long for the days of unenlightened ignorance. Sadly, every asshole has the right to free speech in our wounded democracy, but this particular piece of crap should preach to his base. Maybe Osama would extend an invite to a fellow cave dwelling traveller. Now - that COULD work out, ya think?
Re: Horowitz go speak in Faluga!
By William "daroofa" Thrasher Apr 1st 2007 at 4:39 am EDT
"fellow cave dwelling traveller. Now- that could work out, ya think." How many caves have you been dwelling in, that's all right I'll answer that for you. It must be lonely being all by yourselves in that it has apparently had an effect on your thinking. Why do you have a problem with an Academic Bill of Rights or is it with David Horowitz, he is Jewish you know. Maybe it's frightful for you to know that there are other ways of thinking or is it that you need an insulator for your mind, the cave that you're so fond of. If you were to shout out expletive remarkes will others echo in reply?, only in institutions. It should be instinctive you know, to want to be free from the confines of the institution. I imagine you being sensitive and reflect on what others say but it's your exhibition that has proven otherwise. So the image is gone and it's getting cold in this dark cave/institution, your mind. Sensibility is needed and yes an Academic Bill of Rights is sensible.
  
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